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| Photo: Roger Sargent |
AC/DC has shaken up the rock world with the recent addition of Axl Rose at center stage in place of Brian Johnson, who stepped aside for live performances in March on the advice of doctors in order to prevent further damage to his hearing.
Now drummer Chris Slade is addressing the group’s current European tour with Rose, and the band’s future moving forward, in a series of interactions with fans on his Facebook page.
“Of course, everyone would like it to be Brian up there, but unfortunately, due to his health problems, this is not possible,” writes Slades. “Axl is doing a wonderful job, and the majority opinion now is that the band were right to finish the Rock Or Bust tour with him. Fans have the opportunity to go to the shows or not, it is entirely their choice or indeed their loss.”
The Rock Or Bust tour marks the return of Slade and guitarist Stevie Young to the lineup following the retirement of founder Malcolm Young and a series of legal issues faced by longtime member Phil Rudd.
The Axl-led AC/DC has extended shows from 20 to 23 songs on the spring run with the addition of three classic tracks, including a pair from 1978’s “Powerage” – “Rock ‘n’ Roll Damnation” and “Riff Raff” – and “If You Want Want Blood (You’ve Got It)” from 1979’s “Highway To Hell.”
When a fan expressed concern over the changes and speculated if guitarist Angus Young was considering shutting AC/DC down and retiring, Slade replied: “Angus is definitely NOT thinking of retiring.”
Rose continues to perform confined to scaled down version of a throne on loan from Dave Grohl after breaking his left foot during Guns N’ Roses’ April 1 club gig at The Troubadour in Los Angeles, but the drummer says the chair may not be needed in the near future.
“We all lòok forward to Axl not requiring the chair anymore,” writes Slade. “Shouldn't be too long now.”
AC/DC’s spring European trek runs 12 dates with shows wrapping up in Aarhus, Denmark on June 12.
The band will next perform in Vienna, Austria on May 19.
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